The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, RAS, founded 20 years ago, is interested in both applied and theoretical issues in robotics and automation including intelligent machines and systems used, for example, in space exploration, human services, or manufacturing.

Brooks is the co-founder and Chief Technical Officer of iRobot Corp (nasdaq: IRBT). From 1997 - 2003 and from 2003 - 2007 he was, respectively, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Lab and of the Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Lab. He received degrees in pure mathematics from the Flinders University of South Australia and the Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University in 1981. He held research positions at Carnegie Mellon University and MIT, and a faculty position at Stanford before joining the faculty of MIT in 1984.